Paris Houzz Tour: A Mid-Week Home for a Young Professional
This custom-made layout brings all the functions of a much larger apartment to this tiny space
In France, more and more people work in Paris during the week and then spend weekends with their families in the provinces. Hotels and friends’ sofas have their limits, and when the situation becomes permanent it makes more sense to invest in a pied-à-terre. This 26-square-metre studio in an old building in the dynamic Montorgueil district of Paris was designed to be just such a crash pad.
The studio was originally run-down, but also bright and quiet. That it overlooks a courtyard in a central part of the French capital was another bonus. It was a dream apartment for this young owner. So, he asked the interior designers at Atelier Daaa, whose projects he had seen on Houzz, to optimise it for his lifestyle and give it a makeover, so that he could feel good in it despite being far away from his family. After three months of work, the apartment got a totally new look.
The studio was originally run-down, but also bright and quiet. That it overlooks a courtyard in a central part of the French capital was another bonus. It was a dream apartment for this young owner. So, he asked the interior designers at Atelier Daaa, whose projects he had seen on Houzz, to optimise it for his lifestyle and give it a makeover, so that he could feel good in it despite being far away from his family. After three months of work, the apartment got a totally new look.
Before
Originally the studio had a closed yellow kitchen with a black-and-white floor. It was not really to the new owner’s taste.
The designers opened the studio up, and then created a modular, but still functional, layout. In other words, they wanted to make sure it would not be laid out like a trailer, where the living room turns into a bedroom or office.
“We didn’t want a Swiss army knife, where to use one blade you have to lose another. We wanted all the functions to coexist without the space looking cluttered – despite the small area. It was a real brain teaser,” says Guilbault.
Originally the studio had a closed yellow kitchen with a black-and-white floor. It was not really to the new owner’s taste.
The designers opened the studio up, and then created a modular, but still functional, layout. In other words, they wanted to make sure it would not be laid out like a trailer, where the living room turns into a bedroom or office.
“We didn’t want a Swiss army knife, where to use one blade you have to lose another. We wanted all the functions to coexist without the space looking cluttered – despite the small area. It was a real brain teaser,” says Guilbault.
In addition to the months of planning needed to figure out the best layout, two other factors pushed up the final cost.
First, the work had its share of unpleasant surprises: “This 18th-century timber-framed building had settled, so the floor had a height difference of about 20 centimetres from one side to the other,” says Guilbault. “We had to make it level again by laying down a screed and a steel deck. In addition, we replaced the windows with double-glazed wooden ones made by a carpenter, changed out the fan heaters for electric ones by Thermor and put in an entire drainage system, which had been missing.”
Second, the owner is not a student, and design is important to him, so he chose high-end finishes: solid oak flooring, cement tiles in the kitchen and birch plywood woodwork. “The average budget for this type of space is usually only around 2,000 euros [AU$3,100] per square metre,” says Guilbault.
First, the work had its share of unpleasant surprises: “This 18th-century timber-framed building had settled, so the floor had a height difference of about 20 centimetres from one side to the other,” says Guilbault. “We had to make it level again by laying down a screed and a steel deck. In addition, we replaced the windows with double-glazed wooden ones made by a carpenter, changed out the fan heaters for electric ones by Thermor and put in an entire drainage system, which had been missing.”
Second, the owner is not a student, and design is important to him, so he chose high-end finishes: solid oak flooring, cement tiles in the kitchen and birch plywood woodwork. “The average budget for this type of space is usually only around 2,000 euros [AU$3,100] per square metre,” says Guilbault.
After
The entrance to the studio is just to the left of the kitchen. The small living room is immersed in soft, bright light. The floor and walls are finished in a combination of white paint and light-coloured wood, borrowed from Scandinavian style. Black details and geometric patterns enhance the contrasts and lend a graphic touch to the space.
The entrance to the studio is just to the left of the kitchen. The small living room is immersed in soft, bright light. The floor and walls are finished in a combination of white paint and light-coloured wood, borrowed from Scandinavian style. Black details and geometric patterns enhance the contrasts and lend a graphic touch to the space.
Cement floor tiles with a labyrinth pattern adorn the entrance, kitchen and bathroom.
The highlight of the living area is this birch plywood panel, which partially separates it from the sleeping area. The partition slides along a rail in the dropped ceiling and allows the space to be modified in three different ways.
The highlight of the living area is this birch plywood panel, which partially separates it from the sleeping area. The partition slides along a rail in the dropped ceiling and allows the space to be modified in three different ways.
First, it can conceal the openwork cupboard where the washing machine and storage water heater are nestled.
It can also be moved to hide the passage to the bedroom, located near the bedhead, or it can cover the bookcase and TV stand.
“The sliding wall has no technical function, but it brings the space to life by giving it some movement,” says Guilbault. “It is important to let the occupant of such a small place choose what he wants to see. It prevents monotony.”
“The sliding wall has no technical function, but it brings the space to life by giving it some movement,” says Guilbault. “It is important to let the occupant of such a small place choose what he wants to see. It prevents monotony.”
The partition, like the majority of the carpentry work, is matt-varnished birch plywood. Atelier Daaa particularly likes this material for its Scandinavian flair and graphic edges, which do not have to be refinished afterwards, as a laminate might be, for example. Although it is quite heavy, the panel slides very easily thanks to a track from Hawa fixed to the ceiling.
The bookcase and flat-screen TV module was planned out in great detail. The top is only about 20 centimetres deep, while the bottom, which features drawers, sinks into the platform. They house the router, amp, video game console and so on.
“We made the fronts of the drawers in the same pattern as the laundry closet. This openwork style has both aesthetic and technical purposes. It provides ventilation for heat-emitting devices and allows you to change channels without having to open the drawer,” says Guilbault.
“We made the fronts of the drawers in the same pattern as the laundry closet. This openwork style has both aesthetic and technical purposes. It provides ventilation for heat-emitting devices and allows you to change channels without having to open the drawer,” says Guilbault.
The top of the bookcase has open spaces to make the room appear larger than it is.
Behind this partition, the bedroom was designed as a sleeping box: “The difference is that there isn’t really space to move around the bed. Still, this type of alcove is just as comfortable as a real bedroom,” says Guilbault.
The bed can be accessed either from this small passage between the laundry closet and the television…
The bed can be accessed either from this small passage between the laundry closet and the television…
…or from the foot of the bed. This also serves as a seat for the built-in desk along the wall. Sitting at the foot of the bed, the owner can work facing the window while enjoying a view of the trees outside.
“The great advantage of a custom-made layout is being able to create links between separate areas,” says Guilbault. The well-chosen finishes likewise unify the spaces in the apartment: “Just as the tiles at the entrance run straight into the bathroom to create unity, birch furniture here unifies the living room and the sleeping area”.
“The great advantage of a custom-made layout is being able to create links between separate areas,” says Guilbault. The well-chosen finishes likewise unify the spaces in the apartment: “Just as the tiles at the entrance run straight into the bathroom to create unity, birch furniture here unifies the living room and the sleeping area”.
The double bed has been placed on a platform in order to differentiate the zones and gain some space. “This is the second modular element in this studio, but we have worked on the modularity so that you do not lose one function to create another. Rather, it is an optimised layout,” says Guilbault.
A 140 x 190-centimetre frame and slats were integrated into the top of the 50-centimetre-high platform by a carpenter. They lift up to reveal 3 cubic metres of storage space, where the owner can keep his luggage.
A 140 x 190-centimetre frame and slats were integrated into the top of the 50-centimetre-high platform by a carpenter. They lift up to reveal 3 cubic metres of storage space, where the owner can keep his luggage.
A small niche at the head of the bed serves as a bedside table. It has been equipped with a light switch for both the bedroom area and the living room and has several outlets for the owner to charge his portable electronic devices.
The wardrobe is composed of several vertical storage units.
The wardrobe is composed of several vertical storage units.
It has been designed as a continuation of the laundry cabinet, and is therefore 60 centimetres deep. There are lights inside it, while an LED strip backlight was placed behind a filler strip to give the bedroom area a beautiful atmosphere after dark.
The office shelf extends to the end of the living room. “It was a good way to lengthen the lines of the living room, rework the spaces and add storage,” says Guilbault.
The shelf is wider on the office side than in the living room because the rear facade of the building is slightly angled. This trick makes the room seem more rectangular.
Opening up the living room created space for a custom-made 2-metre-long linear kitchen unit that extends to the ceiling.
The cabinet doors have no hardware, to create a lightweight feel. The bottom cabinets are birch, while the the top ones are in pale-grey lacquered MDF. The benchtop is made of Solid Surface.
The cabinet doors have no hardware, to create a lightweight feel. The bottom cabinets are birch, while the the top ones are in pale-grey lacquered MDF. The benchtop is made of Solid Surface.
The kitchen does not have a dishwasher, but it does feature a combination microwave, an induction stovetop, a small refrigerator and plenty of storage space.
As in the rest of the apartment, the lighting has been thought out carefully. “The kitchen gets light from three modern ceiling lights while an LED strip illuminates the entire benchtop. There is also lighting in the range hood,” says Guilbault.
As in the rest of the apartment, the lighting has been thought out carefully. “The kitchen gets light from three modern ceiling lights while an LED strip illuminates the entire benchtop. There is also lighting in the range hood,” says Guilbault.
To liven up the space, tiles with a graphic feel were chosen for both the floor and the wall. They are cement tiles with a labyrinth motif designed by the Swedish brand Marrakech Design.
The designer placed a round table in front of the kitchen unit.
Although the bathroom is about 1.75 metres deep and and 1.4 metres wide, it has been efficiently planned out, with an 80 x 130-centimetre shower, a toilet and a vanity unit.
Nothing in this design was accidental. The polished shower base is a cheerful touch, while the white toilet and contrasting black bathroom fixtures add to the Scandinavian atmosphere.
Creating the bathroom was technically challenging because there was originally no water supply or drainage system. The designers handled the problem cleverly using a lift pump concealed inside a box that serves as a shelf in the shower.
The box is aligned with the vanity unit, a custom-made, space-saving resin model with a ceramic sink. “Our job was integration, hiding the technical equipment. That’s part of our challenge,” says Guilbault.
Thanks to Atelier Daaa, the owner now has an enhanced studio with a graphic touch that is both comfortable and functional. He feels that the cost was well worth it, because having a home he can feel good in makes being away from his family during the week a bit more bearable.
Tell us
What do you love about this mid-week home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like the story, save your favourite images and join in the conversation.
More
Take a look at last week’s Stickybeak of the Week: A Glass Bridge Connects Old and New
Tell us
What do you love about this mid-week home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like the story, save your favourite images and join in the conversation.
More
Take a look at last week’s Stickybeak of the Week: A Glass Bridge Connects Old and New
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young person whose work takes him away from his family during the week
Location: Montorgueil, Paris, France
Size: 26 square metres
Budget: About AU$135,000 (85,000 euros): or AU$4,700 (3,000 euros) per square metre
Completion date: Summer of 2017, after three months of work
Designers: Richard Guilbault, Julien Ensarguet and Pierre Petit of Atelier Daaa
The renovation cost more than one might expect for a small space: the owner did not hesitate to spend about AU$135,000 (85,000 euros) to renovate.
In general, small spaces are the most difficult to optimise because the design has to make use of every centimetre. “Although the space is very limited, it is our job to integrate the same number of functions as might be found in a larger apartment: a bedroom area, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and an office. We also have to ensure that the space feels open,” says interior designer Richard Guilbault.